Air Force Participates In 2024 MW Men’s Basketball Media Day Thursday
10/16/2024 12:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
2024-25 Mountain West Men's Basketball Media Day
Thursday, Oct. 17
Resorts World - Las Vegas, NV
Air Force MW Network Live Show slot (8:40-9:00 am PT)
Air Force head coach Joe Scott, along with team captains, senior guards Jeffrey Mills and Ethan Taylor will represent the Academy at the Mountain West Men's Basketball Media Day in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Mountain West Network Live Show will begin at 8 am PT. Air Force is the first featured team, slated to go on the show at 8:40 am PT. The other day's events include the filming of promos across several media platforms, talking with Sirius XM, The Field of 68 Podcast, Jon Rothstein Live Stream, an NCAA photoshoot and open forums with print media and local television.
Experienced and Young at the same time.
Air Force features five seniors on the team, making it top-heavy in veterans on the team. However, Air Force has nine sophomores and 10 freshmen, which accounts for 76 percent of the team. Based on an intormal poll by NCAA Div. I CBB sports information directors (as of 10/16/24), Air Force has the most freshmen on any Div. I roster for the 2024-25 season.
Most Div. I MBB Freshmen 2024-25***
1. Air Force - 10
2. Army - 9
2. Tarleton State - 9
4. Buffalo - 8
4. Georgetown - 8
4. Navy - 8
4. Rutgers
***(From D1 SID poll)
Returners
Air Force returns three starters and 15 players from the 2023-24 team, that posted a 9-22 record.
Returning Starters
Sr. 6-5, G Ethan Taylor - 13.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 84 three's, 36.9 mpg.
Sr. 6-4, G Jeffrey Mills - 9.1 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.6 assist-turnover ratio
Sr. 6-7, F Beau Becker - 13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 74 three's, 25 blocks
Other Notable Returners
Sr. 6-7, F Chase Beasley - 26 gp, 11 starts, 1.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg.
Sr. 6-5, G Byron Brown - 31 gp, 8 starts, 5.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 51.4 FG%.
So. 6-7, F Luke Kearney - 3.9 ppg, 14 three's, 84.6 FTH%
So. 7-0, C Wesley Celichowski - 1.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
So. 6-6, G Brady Ruggles - 10 gp, 0.2 ppg
So. 6-5, G Kolby Gilles - 16 gp, 1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg.
Newcomers
Air Force welcomes 10 freshmen, with six players being 6-foot-6 or taller.
Percentage Returning for Air Force in 2023-24
Scoring - 70%
Rebounding - 66%
Games Started - 69%
Minutes - 70%
Air Force roster breakdown by grade
Seniors - 5
Junior - 1
Sophomores - 9
Freshmen - 10
Staff Changes
- Air Force has one staff addition for 2024-25. Eamonn Kearney joins the staff as an assistant coach. Kearney comes to the Academy after a season at Princeton.
Bolstered Non-Conference Schedule
Air Force is slated to play one of its toughest non-conference schedules in program history. The slate features two 20-win teams, an ACC team and a 19-win Northern Colorado team that saw postseason play in 2023-24.
- at Cal: ACC program.
- Belmont: 14-consecutive 20-win seasons.
- Road games at Wright State and Miami-Ohio
- at UNC: 19 wins and postseason play in 23-24.
- vs. Stony Brook: 20 wins and 2nd place finish in CAA in 23-24.
Canada Trip
Air Force embarked on a summer cultural immersion trip to Canada in late July. The Falcons went 4-1 against some of the top Canadian Universities, including a win over Laval University, the 2024 Canadian National Champions, in its final game. The trip was over nine days, with stops in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. Ethan Taylor led the Falcons in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. Air Force was solid defensively, allowing opponents to shoot just 34.6 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three-point range.
Record Book Watch:
Career Points: Ethan Taylor 880 (44th)
Career Three's Made: Ethan Taylor 158 (10th)
Career Three's Attempted: Ethan Taylor 444 (10th)
Career Assists: Ethan Taylor 282 (9th)
Career Blocked Shots: Beau Becker 48 (11th)
Notable from 2023-24:
Team
- Reached 114 NET ranking on Dec. 5, which was highest in program history.
- Air Force Classic Champions (3-0 vs. Lindenwood, William & Mary and Omaha)
- 32-point win over UNLV on Jan. 23, was biggest road win ever in a MW game.
- Win over UNLV was biggest win margin ever against UNLV.
- Snapped 14-game losing streak to UNLV at Thomas & Mack Center.
- Snapped 13-game losing streak to New Mexico at The Pit.
- 5 road wins and six road/neutral site wins are the most since 2007.
- School record three true road wins in non-conference play (first time since 2006).
- School record 163 three's in MW games.
- Led MW with 9.1 three's per game in MW play.
Record Book Impacts (TEAM):
Team Single Season
Most three's - 273 (4th)
Most three's attempted - 757 (2nd)
Most Blocked shots - 122 (2nd)
Team Conference Games
Most three's - 163 (1st)
Most three's attempted - 443 (1st)
Most Assists - 251 (5th)
Most Blocked Shots - 56 (2nd)
Record Book Impacts (INDIVIDUAL):
Single Season
Most three's made - Ethan Taylor - 84 (2nd); Beau Becker - 74 (9th)
Most three's attempted - Ethan Taylor - 235 (3rd), Beau Becker 187 (8th)
Conference Games
Field Goal Percentage - Byron Bown - 56.9 (1st)
Most Three's Made - Beau Becker - 44 (6th); Ethan Taylor 41 (8th)
Most Three's Attempted - Ethan Taylor - 119 (5th); Beau Becker - 113 (6th)
Individual Notes
- Ethan Taylor 84 three's is the second most in a season at Air Force and most in MW era.
- Beau Becker's 74 three's is 9th most in a season at Air Force and sixth most in MW era.
- Ethan Taylor earned Air Force Classic MVP honors, leading Falcons to 3-0 record. Beau Becker and Jeffrey Mills were named to all-tournament team.
- Byron Brown's .569 field goal percentage in MW play set a program record for highest field goal percentage in MW season.
- Ethan Taylor led MW in three's per game (2.77) and minutes per game (35.9).
Air Force opens the season Nov. 4 hosting North Alabama.
Thursday, Oct. 17
Resorts World - Las Vegas, NV
Air Force MW Network Live Show slot (8:40-9:00 am PT)
Air Force head coach Joe Scott, along with team captains, senior guards Jeffrey Mills and Ethan Taylor will represent the Academy at the Mountain West Men's Basketball Media Day in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Mountain West Network Live Show will begin at 8 am PT. Air Force is the first featured team, slated to go on the show at 8:40 am PT. The other day's events include the filming of promos across several media platforms, talking with Sirius XM, The Field of 68 Podcast, Jon Rothstein Live Stream, an NCAA photoshoot and open forums with print media and local television.
Experienced and Young at the same time.
Air Force features five seniors on the team, making it top-heavy in veterans on the team. However, Air Force has nine sophomores and 10 freshmen, which accounts for 76 percent of the team. Based on an intormal poll by NCAA Div. I CBB sports information directors (as of 10/16/24), Air Force has the most freshmen on any Div. I roster for the 2024-25 season.
Most Div. I MBB Freshmen 2024-25***
1. Air Force - 10
2. Army - 9
2. Tarleton State - 9
4. Buffalo - 8
4. Georgetown - 8
4. Navy - 8
4. Rutgers
***(From D1 SID poll)
Returners
Air Force returns three starters and 15 players from the 2023-24 team, that posted a 9-22 record.
Returning Starters
Sr. 6-5, G Ethan Taylor - 13.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 84 three's, 36.9 mpg.
Sr. 6-4, G Jeffrey Mills - 9.1 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.6 assist-turnover ratio
Sr. 6-7, F Beau Becker - 13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 74 three's, 25 blocks
Other Notable Returners
Sr. 6-7, F Chase Beasley - 26 gp, 11 starts, 1.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg.
Sr. 6-5, G Byron Brown - 31 gp, 8 starts, 5.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 51.4 FG%.
So. 6-7, F Luke Kearney - 3.9 ppg, 14 three's, 84.6 FTH%
So. 7-0, C Wesley Celichowski - 1.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
So. 6-6, G Brady Ruggles - 10 gp, 0.2 ppg
So. 6-5, G Kolby Gilles - 16 gp, 1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg.
Newcomers
Air Force welcomes 10 freshmen, with six players being 6-foot-6 or taller.
Percentage Returning for Air Force in 2023-24
Scoring - 70%
Rebounding - 66%
Games Started - 69%
Minutes - 70%
Air Force roster breakdown by grade
Seniors - 5
Junior - 1
Sophomores - 9
Freshmen - 10
Staff Changes
- Air Force has one staff addition for 2024-25. Eamonn Kearney joins the staff as an assistant coach. Kearney comes to the Academy after a season at Princeton.
Bolstered Non-Conference Schedule
Air Force is slated to play one of its toughest non-conference schedules in program history. The slate features two 20-win teams, an ACC team and a 19-win Northern Colorado team that saw postseason play in 2023-24.
- at Cal: ACC program.
- Belmont: 14-consecutive 20-win seasons.
- Road games at Wright State and Miami-Ohio
- at UNC: 19 wins and postseason play in 23-24.
- vs. Stony Brook: 20 wins and 2nd place finish in CAA in 23-24.
Canada Trip
Air Force embarked on a summer cultural immersion trip to Canada in late July. The Falcons went 4-1 against some of the top Canadian Universities, including a win over Laval University, the 2024 Canadian National Champions, in its final game. The trip was over nine days, with stops in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. Ethan Taylor led the Falcons in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. Air Force was solid defensively, allowing opponents to shoot just 34.6 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three-point range.
Record Book Watch:
Career Points: Ethan Taylor 880 (44th)
Career Three's Made: Ethan Taylor 158 (10th)
Career Three's Attempted: Ethan Taylor 444 (10th)
Career Assists: Ethan Taylor 282 (9th)
Career Blocked Shots: Beau Becker 48 (11th)
Notable from 2023-24:
Team
- Reached 114 NET ranking on Dec. 5, which was highest in program history.
- Air Force Classic Champions (3-0 vs. Lindenwood, William & Mary and Omaha)
- 32-point win over UNLV on Jan. 23, was biggest road win ever in a MW game.
- Win over UNLV was biggest win margin ever against UNLV.
- Snapped 14-game losing streak to UNLV at Thomas & Mack Center.
- Snapped 13-game losing streak to New Mexico at The Pit.
- 5 road wins and six road/neutral site wins are the most since 2007.
- School record three true road wins in non-conference play (first time since 2006).
- School record 163 three's in MW games.
- Led MW with 9.1 three's per game in MW play.
Record Book Impacts (TEAM):
Team Single Season
Most three's - 273 (4th)
Most three's attempted - 757 (2nd)
Most Blocked shots - 122 (2nd)
Team Conference Games
Most three's - 163 (1st)
Most three's attempted - 443 (1st)
Most Assists - 251 (5th)
Most Blocked Shots - 56 (2nd)
Record Book Impacts (INDIVIDUAL):
Single Season
Most three's made - Ethan Taylor - 84 (2nd); Beau Becker - 74 (9th)
Most three's attempted - Ethan Taylor - 235 (3rd), Beau Becker 187 (8th)
Conference Games
Field Goal Percentage - Byron Bown - 56.9 (1st)
Most Three's Made - Beau Becker - 44 (6th); Ethan Taylor 41 (8th)
Most Three's Attempted - Ethan Taylor - 119 (5th); Beau Becker - 113 (6th)
Individual Notes
- Ethan Taylor 84 three's is the second most in a season at Air Force and most in MW era.
- Beau Becker's 74 three's is 9th most in a season at Air Force and sixth most in MW era.
- Ethan Taylor earned Air Force Classic MVP honors, leading Falcons to 3-0 record. Beau Becker and Jeffrey Mills were named to all-tournament team.
- Byron Brown's .569 field goal percentage in MW play set a program record for highest field goal percentage in MW season.
- Ethan Taylor led MW in three's per game (2.77) and minutes per game (35.9).
Air Force opens the season Nov. 4 hosting North Alabama.
Players Mentioned
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